The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-03-01

Here in this District of Hilo we have had
collected, as near as / can learn, S5,VVO Ior
the road tax, which, according to our law, is
to be spent in this district. Now, where IS IL
spent {? Sent to Honolulu, it is emptled INTO
that bottomless bag, the Treasury, ana
cannot again be found. While this miserable
Cabinet is appropriating the same stolen
road money from our and other districts to
buy a training farce" for nothing but
show, the Hilo bridges are rotting away,
falling through, and persons residing few
miles out cannot get to town without real
and serious risk of life and limb. Even the
great bridge across the Waikiki, connecting
our ten or twelve plantations In the country
with the town, is so seriously out of repair
as to be dangerous for crossing after dark.
A calvert out of town q mile and half was
washed away months ago, and poor, mlser-
able track. two or three feet wide, cut down
the slippery banks, is all that has been done
to it. The paved and really good road made
the past two years out as far as Wainaku' IS
going to the bad, because not dollar can be
had to repair it. The whole road between
Laupahoehoe and Hilo is in such state that
it would shame Hottentot chief to own 1t
IL his dominions.
1t is not the fault of our Road Supervisor.
He would gladly put the work necessary on TO
the roads were he allowed our own money 20
do it with. But no; the senseles5 parade
and follies of this miserable autocratlc Gov
eminent must first be attended to-pald Tor
by what they can steal from the districts and
beg or borrow from outsiders. Then II
dime is left, squeeze it hard and let it 60 for
improvements.
Even the streets in this town are in such a
state that many are impassible-full OF holes
and mud swamps. And what was the cry OF
the Government at the election OF last year
" You sent two obnoxious men to represent
you last year, and therefore did not get any
thing. Send US the Government candidates,
and you will see that you'll get all we ask
for"
What is the outcomel We cannot even
get our own property, but that little is stolen
from US, to say nothing of our big appro-
priations - for "water works, roads and
bridges, street lights" etc.
Mr. Editor we will never get what is our
due until there is an entire change. God
grant that earthquakes, lava outbursts, or
anything else that may be necessary to bring
about this change, may not cease following
US up until every man has his rights and
one of the greatest of which Is not to be
forced to support the folIies Of one or any
number of autocrats. All we would like to
see, up here, would be our OVID delivered to
US. 10 ask for any more we know to be
folly; but we do demand that we have the
money which the law guarantees Us.
What l write for this district is equally
appllcaDle TO the Districts or damaKua anu
Kohala-large agricultural districts, paying
heavy taxes to this Government, and no roads
kept in repair for them to do their business
on. Shame on such Government.
But l might keep on indefinitely talking
or writing of the ineficiency of the Govern
ment Would it do any good But l be-
lieve that continual pounding will eventu-
ally wear out the hardest rock. Let every
district show up from time to time what is
not being done there. Don't be afraid pile
| it up, and never stop till we get what We
ought to have, and that is fair, honest and
good Government. Yours, A NATIVE.